System having combined automatic switch and lamp regulator



April 19 1927. 1,624,999

- W. A. TURBAYNE SYSTEM HAVING COMBINED AUTOMATIC SWITCH AND LAMP REGULATOR Original Filed April 9. 1920 INVENTOR.

MLLMMA; TimaAYN:

BY QW ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM TURBAYNE, OI NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOE, BY MESNE AS- SIGNMENTS,\TO THE SAFETY CAR HEATING AND LIGHTING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY. v

SYSTEM HAVING COMBINED AUTOMATIC SWITCH AND LAMP REGUEATOB.

Application filed April 9, 1920, Serial No. 372,561. Renewed August 12, 1926.

The present invention relates to systems having combined automatic switches and lamp regulators.

More particularly the present invent on relates to systems wherein a variable speed generator is used to supply current to astorage battery and a translation circuit in parallel branches, said systems combining in unitary ,structure the automatic switch and translation circuit regulator which are commonly provided in such systems.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel system involving a combined automatic switch and lamp regulator.

A further object is to provide a mechanism which is very sensitive to changes across the translation circuit of. a system of the kind referred to above.

Further objects will appear as the description proceeds,

Referring to the drawings- Fig. 1 represents diagrammatically one embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 2 represents a detail of construction.

The numerals 1 and 2 represent electric mains constituting a source of electrical energy. Said mains 1 and 2 may be supplied from a generator, not shown, WhlCh may be driven from the car axle of a train or by the engine of a motor car. Said mains 1 and 2'are adapted to deliver current to the storage battery 3 and to the translation circuit 4, which may be connected in parallel branches across said mains 1 and 2. Said translation circuit- 4 contains translation devices 4'. I

The combined automatic switch and lamp regulating mechanism referred to above includes a magnetic frame comprising the cores 5 and 6, the armature 7 and the armavide what is practically a closed magnetic circuit. Thearmature 7 is adapted to operate a switch for closlng'mams 1 and 2 upon the battery 3 and the translating circuit 4 in a manner which will be described hereinafter. The armature 8 is adapted to operate a rheostat 10 in the translation circuit 4, as will be explained later.

Mounted upon the cores 5 and 6 are the solenoids 9 9 which are connected in series with one another. One end of these solenoids is connectedto the main 1, While the other end of these solenoids is connected to that end of the rheostat 10 which is adja-. cent to the translating devices 4. As will.

be apparent hereinafter, the solenoids 99 comprise the operating voltage means for the automaticswitch. The automatic switch comprises a movable contact member 11 operating in response to the armature 7,

which contact member 11 is adapted to 611-.

gage with the fixed contact member 12. The fixed contact member 12 is connected through solenoid 13 with the translating devices 4' and compressible rheostat 10 to the main 2. Said contact 12 is also connected through the solenoid 14' and storage battery 3 to the main 2. The solenoids 13, 14 and the voltage'solenoids 9, 9, are mounted upon the cores 5 and 6 and are wound to operate cumulatively when current isbeing delivered; from the mains 1' and 2 to the storage battery 3fand the translating circuit 4.

Armature 8. is biased by the spring 15 to.

Figure 2 shows the preferred manner of mounting the solenoids 13, 14. said two solenoids 13, 14 being mounted upon the cores 5 and 6 respectively.

' A mode of operation of the described embodiment of the present invention is substantially as follows. When the voltage across the mains 1 and 2 is low, the pull of the solenoids 9, 9 will be of only a small amount and armature 8 will be biased b spring 15 to a position away from the en 5 of cores 5 and 6. Lever 16 will hold the rheostat 10 in a state of compression at this time, whereby there will be only a minimum ofresistance offered to the pamage of ourrentfrom the storage battery to supply the demands of the translation devices .4. In-

asmuch as the resistance of the rheostat- 10' will be sensitive to changes in: voltage across the mains 1 and 2. When a redetermined voltage is attained across said mains 1 and 2, the solenoids 9, 9 will be sufiiciently energized to attract armature 7, thereby causing movable contact 11 to engage with stationexcess of the desired lamp voltage across solenoids 9, 9 will result in the attraction of armature 8, relieving compression of rheostat 10"to increase .the resistance in circuit with translating devices 4. Substantially constant voltage will therefore beheld across the translating devices. At such times that the armature 7 is in unattracted position, i. e., when the battery alone is supplying the demands of the translating devices 4', the armature 8 will be unable to operate lever 16, due to the increased reluctance of the frame comprising members 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Solenoids 13 and 14 will act as holding coils acting cumulatively with voltage solenoids 9, 9, as long as the voltage across mains 1 and 2 is at or above a predetermined figure. Solenoid 14 will also onerate as a releasing coil if the battery should tend to discharge back through mains 1 and 2, functioning in a manner which is well known in connection withautomatic switches. Said solenoids 13, 14 will also improve the sensitivity of the lamp regulator for the following reasons. Let it be supposed, for example. that a number of lamps are switched on, whereby there is -liable to be caused a momentary drop-in voltage on account of the time lag in the regulating means which may be employed at the source of E. M. F- across which the mains 1 and 2 are connected. -This time lag, is, of course, particularly pronounced in those systems in which the source is regulated by an external electro-mechanical regulating device. The turning on of more lamps not only tends to reduce. the voltage effective on solenoids 9, 9, but also causes a sudden pronounced reduction of current in the series solenoid 14 connected in series 1 with the battery. This reduction of ourrent flow through solenoid 14 is momentarily much greater than the increase in flow through solenoid 13, due to the low internal resistance of a storage battery, so that the combined action of solenoids 9, 9, solenoid 13 and battery solenoid 14 produces such a weakening in the magnetic flux that .instantaneous and effective regulation is produced. The throwing off of lamps or anything of this nature which tends to cause an abrupt rise in voltage, produces, of course, opposite results. The arran ement of coils 13 and 14 in separate circuits on the separate legs of the magnet may be departed from without departing from the broader ,features of the invention but the arrangement shown is preferred for the reason that such arrangement permits choice in the ratio in the number of turns in said coil -The described embodiment of-the present invention has been chosenmerely t the purpose of illustration. Many modi'fi ations will occur to those skilled in the art. It is intended in this patent to covpi all such modifications that come within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

lVhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States,

1. In combination, magnetic members adapted to form a substantially closed magnetic circuit, certain of said members being movable in response to magnetic conditions in said circuit. a source of electrical supply. a storage battery circuit and a-translation circuit, a coil responsive to voltage condi- ,-tions in one of said circuits for magnetizing said magnetic members. means responsive to current flow in said circuits for magnetizing said members, a switch for connecting said source to said circuits, said translation circuit being provided with a variable resistance rhcostat, one of said movable members being connected to opcrate said switch and another of said movable members being connected to operate said rheostat.

2. In combination. magnetic members including two relatively stationary and two relativelv movable members adapted to form a substantiallvclosed magnetic circuit. a source of electrical supply. a storage battery circuit and a translation circuit. a coil responsive to the voltage across said translation circuit for magnetizing said magnetic members, means responsive to current flow in said battery and translation circuits for magnetizing said members, a switch for connecting said source to said circuits, said translation circuit being provided with a variable resistance rheostat, one of'" said movable members being connected to operate said switch, the other of said movable members being connected to operate said rheos'tat.

3. In combination, a source of electrical supply, a battery circuit, a translation circuit and a combined automatic switch and regulator, the switch element thereof being llll positioned to connect the source to the battranslation means, operating means for said switching means, said switch operating means co-operating with said regulator operating means to increase the operating efiiciency thereof.

5. In a system, in combination, a source of electrical energy, a storage battery, a translation circuit, switching means for connecting said source to said battery and said translation circuit, regulating means for said translation circuit, operating means for said regulating means, common controlling means for said switching means and said operating means, the effectiveness of said controlling means to control said opera-ting means being responsive to the operation of said switching means.

6. In a system, in combination, a source of electrical energy, a storage battery, a translation circuit, regulating means for said circuit. magnetic operating means for said regulating means, means. for changing the reluctance of said operating means, and means operated by said last mentioned means for connecting said source to said battery and said translation circuit.

7. In a system, in combination, a source of electrical energy, a storage battery, a trans lation circuit, regulating means for said translation circuit, operating means for said regulating means, said operating means being provided with means for preventing operation of said regulating means until a predetermined voltage is developed across' said source, said preventing means operating upon the attainment of said predetermined voltage to increase the operating efiicienoy of said regulating means.

8. In a system, in combination, a source of electrical energy, a storage battery, a translation circuit, regulating means for said translation circuit, operating means for said regulating means, said operating means being provided with means for preventing operation of said regulating means until a predetermined voltage is developed across said source, and means responsive to said preventing means for connecting said source to said battery and said translation circuit, said last mentioned means thereafter serving to increase the operating efficiency of said regulating means. i

9. In a system, in combination, a source of electrical energy, a storage battery. a trans-- lation circuit, a switch for connecting said source to said battery and said translation circuit, regulating means for said translation circuit, operating means for said regulating means, said switch and operating means having electromagnetic operating coils in common, said switch being provided with operating means capable of disabling said first mentioned operatingmeans until said switch is closed.

10. In a system, in combination, a source of electrical energy, a storage battery, a translation circuit, a compressible pile for regulatingsaid translation circuit, voltage means and current means for controlling said pile, switch means for connecting said source to said battery and tosaid translation circuit, said voltage means and current means being adapted to control said switch means, said switch means being provided with means for ensuring that said pile shall have no regulating action until said switching means is closed.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

WILLIAM A. TURBAYNE. 

